Nigeria launches three-week livestock vaccination campaign

NIGERIA – Gombe State has launched its 2025/2026 livestock vaccination campaign against three major animal diseases, with authorities urging livestock owners and farmers to cooperate with veterinary teams during the three-week exercise.

Deputy Governor Manasseh Jatau, representing Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya at the flag-off ceremony in Tumfure Bashar on Wednesday, said protecting animal health is essential to food security, public health, and rural livelihoods.

The campaign targets Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in cattle, as well as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats.

Gombe State Commissioner for Livestock Development Salisu Alkali said the exercise would cover all local government areas (LGAs) and local council development areas (LCDAs). 

Veterinary teams will move across the state to vaccinate animals and support disease prevention and control.

Alkali urged livestock owners, pastoralists, farmers and breeders’ associations to make their animals available, adding that broad participation was essential to protecting the state’s livestock population. 

He acknowledged support from development partners, including the Gombe State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).

Jatau said livestock supports livelihoods and nutrition through meat, milk, manure and animal traction, while livestock products contribute to industries such as leather production. 

He added that the state had invested in veterinary clinic upgrades, a diagnostic laboratory, a solar-powered cold-chain facility and livestock training centres.

The government has also begun developing an 184-hectare Special Livestock Development Zone planned to include an abattoir, tannery, international livestock market, veterinary hospital, poultry unit and inland dry port. Jatau said the project could reduce the need to transport live animals over long distances.

To address farmer-herder tensions, the state has established a Farmers-Herders Resolution Committee and is working to re-demarcate cattle routes and grazing reserves. 

Jatau called on livestock owners to use designated routes and cooperate with veterinary personnel.

Federal Ministry of Livestock Development state coordinator Abdulhamid Garba said animal diseases threaten a sector that provides food, income and employment for millions of Nigerians.

Miyetti Allah Cattle Rearers’ state chairman Modibbo Yaya welcomed the government’s livestock initiatives but raised concerns about alleged encroachment on cattle routes and grazing areas in Dukku.

The campaign is intended to strengthen disease control and protect livestock production across Gombe State.

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